Types Of Perm Hairstyles

Back in the 80s, curls were 100% the hairstyle to have. Straighteners were out and curlers, crimpers and perms were everywhere. Girls loved their curls and why not? They brought volume, life and waves to their hair. Now, thirty years later, everything retro is back in fashion and women everywhere are realizing that the 80s rocked – especially when it came to fashion.

If you’re one of the millions of women who love wearing their hair in curls, you’ll know how much of a hassle it is too though. How many seemingly endless hours do you spend a week trying to achieve the perfect curls? How often have you found yourself wanting to throw your curlers in the trash? Curling your hair is a nightmare – fact. The solution? If you curl your hair near daily anyway and know that’s not likely to change any time soon, why not get a perm? Your curls will last for months (the tighter the curls the longer the perm) so you’ll have no more daily hassle with curlers. Your hair will look great and you’ll save yourself heaps of precious time! Win, win!

Perms aren’t just a one curl type fits all type of job anymore either. You can choose how you want your hair permed and in what style. Confused? Let’s take a look at six different types of perms you can get…

Spiral Perm

Spiral perms are created using long perm rods. The end result is extremely tight, cascading curls or ringlets. They look like tightly wound spirals or corkscrews. Of course, how tight the curls are depends on the size of the perm rod and the various chemicals used. These factors will mostly vary from salon to salon so be sure to ask – some salons will be able to provide pictures of their work as examples.

Body Perm

Body wave perms help to give volume to hair. They’re generally suited for people with thin or flat hair and the curls will be larger on women with hair that is naturally quite straight. It produces loose curls and a gentle wave which is great for adding volume and a bit of life to dull hair. It’s great for shoulder length hair or longer and suits people with square faces as it tends to soften facial features.

Spot/Plain Curl Perm

Plain curl perms (often referred to as ‘spot perms’) focus on curling a specific section of hair. They’re used generally to help achieve a certain style, for example curling only the ends or midsection of your hair. With plain curl perms, you can choose to either have tight or loose curls. The result tends to be natural looking waves depending on where you choose to have permed.

Muti-Textured Perm

If you’re worried about your perm looking a bit too uniform and unnatural, a multi-textured perm could be perfect for you. It’s created using two different sized styling rods which means the curls end up varying sizes throughout your hair. This is thought to look more natural and the uniform and defined curls you would get otherwise. Due to the nature of the perm, it’s best done on women with long hair – the result isn’t quite as flattering on short hair I’m sorry to say.

Root Perm

Root perms are perfect for women with flat, limp and lifeless hair. As the name suggests, this process involves perming just the roots. The slight curl will give your roots a bit of body which will in turn help to lift the rest of your hair, giving it volume.

Root perms can also be used on women with short hair who simply want to bring a bit of life to it. It’s perfect for giving your short hair an incredibly fashionable and retro look.

Stacked Perm

Stacked perms work better for women with hair of all one length opposed to hair with layers due to the fact it adds a lot of volume to hair. Generally, it suits women of all face types too. Stacked perms are where the stylist focuses on curling only close to the ends of the hair, giving hair volume and creating the illusion of layers.

Pin Curl Perm

As the name would suggest, pin curl pins are created with pins and curlers. They tend to create quite tight curls however you do have some control over size as you can choose the appropriate curler size to be used. The one drawback to pin curl perms are that they tend not to last as long as other perms, especially if your hair is quite long. This is best done on medium or short hair.

Loose Wave Perm

Loose wave perms are a great choice if you’re not totally committed to having super curly or wavy hair. As the name suggests, this type of perm creates loose waves which can be easily compared to the beach wave look, something which looks fab come summertime. It can be done on any length of hair but the longer the better in this case or the waves likely won’t have much effect on your look.

Partial Perm

Partial perms involve perming only the bottom half of your hair (or even just the very end if you choose) and leave the part of your hair nearest your scalp completely straight. This is a great way to add volume to your look without overdoing it and also tends to be a much manageable style than most other perms. If you’re going to be tying your hair up a lot this look is perfect for you.

Volumising Perm

Volumising perms add volume – it really is that simple. You can get them in a variety of curl styles but as a rule they tend to use quite tight curls to create extra volume. Plus, there tends to be lots of small curls opposed to a few loose big ones which adds even more volume. It’s not the easiest style in the world to manage but it is a look that is sure to get you noticed.

As you can see, you have loads of choice when it comes to what perm to get. Even within these basic perm types, all perms are different depending on the rod type and the chemicals used to set your hair. These six perms are just a few of what you can get too – there are lots more perm types out there but these are the most popular.

Now that I’ve told you about various perm types, it seems only fitting that I give you a few instructions on how to care for your new perm too. Firstly, do not – DO NOT – wash your hair for an absolute minimum of 24 hours after having your perm done. Doing so will deactivate the chemicals used to set your perm before your perm has had a chance to take hold and thus your hair will return to being exactly the same as it was before. If you don’t want your perm to be not only a waste of time but money too then this tip is a must!

Secondly, try to care for your perm will special shampoos and conditioners. These will help your perm to last longer and look better too. Perms can last for anywhere between two to six months so to give your perm the best chance of survival care for it wisely.

So that’s that! Have fun choosing which perm to get and enjoy your new style. Be sure to experiment with your new style too – just because your hair has a bit of extra volume and a few added curls doesn’t mean all your favorite hair clips and all your old hairdos need to go to waste.

Happy perming, ladies. Be sure to let me know how it goes and if you found this article useful.

164 Comments

Anytime that you use chemicals to treat your hair, you will find that some hair is damaged. As with anything, moderation makes the difference. Make a decision that you feel is appropriate in regards to your value of social desires and health. Speak with your hairstylist about your questions. Have a great day, Trinity!

Each style of perm is used for different hairstyles. Determine what kind of style you think would be best for you. Speak with a local hairstylist who can look at your hair. Their experience and ideas will best serve you. Have a great day, Twana!

So I have been wanting a perm but I’ve had to wait cause I never now what perm I want. But I’ve been looking at the loose wave perm. I have thick medium sized hair almost large and I was wondering if that would be the best one.

Speak with a hairstylist that you trust to determine which type of perm you believe would be most appropriate for your desires. They will be able to look at your hair and give you feedback on your thoughts and desires. Have a great day, Hannah!

I have long (a little longer than mid back) fine hair. I need body and want the curls is a spiral perm best or a regular perm? I want actual curls, not stringy looking curled spaghetti or waves. My hair has a natural wave to it. My stylist and I have already talked about adding layers to help with body and depth.. but what kind of perm will yield the best results?? So confused

Each person’s hair is different, so it is best that you have already spoken with your hairstylist. They will be able to share years of experiences and ideas with you. Bring an image of the style of hair that you would like. They will be able to perm your hair in the way that you want to have. Have a great day, Betsy!

There are many different types of hair. Your best option is to speak with a hairstylist about your question. Their experience and ideas will give you the best possible perm for your hair. Have a great day, Jacky!

Speak with your local hairstylist. They will be able to help you make this determination. Each type of hair needs a different approach. Speak with your family and friends for advice as well. Have a great day, Amelie!

Hair thickness is different for everyone. It may be best for you to speak with a hairstylist. They will be able to determine if your hair is suitable. If not, then they will be able to give you different ideas for your hair. Have a great day, Yamuma!

If you have long hair, there are many more options for the types of perms that you would like. You might want a more wavy perm though so that your face does not look wider than it actually is. Ask your hair stylist beforehand though because he or she will be able to give you more customized advice. Good luck, Glenda!

They generally are permanent, and you will generally not want to remove your perm right away because it can be quite rough on your hair. Before you perm your hair, try just crimping it or curling for a couple of weeks to make sure that you will like it.

It all depends on the type of look that you want. I would talk to your stylist and see what he or she thinks about your face shape and hair before you decide on the right perm for you. Good luck, Ashton!

Your hairstylist will be able to use their experience to turn your current hair into the style that you want. Each person’s hair is different, and different perms may be required. Explain what you want to your local hairstylist and they will be able to work wonders for you. Have a great day, Maxi!

You would be served best by speaking with a hairstylist. They will be able to give you the advice that you are seeking in regard to your hair. They will have years of experience and much advice for you. Have a great day, Rebecca!

It would be most wise for you to speak with a hairstylist at a salon about what options would be best for your hair. They have years of experience and plenty of ideas that they can share with you. Take a look at the pictures that you find online so you can best direct your hairstylist about what you want to have.

It would be wise to speak with an experienced hair stylist at a local salon about what should be done with your hair. It is most difficult to understand anything about people’s hair over an internet forum. A hairstylist will have experience and good advice about how you should care for your hair and what you should do.